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Program Description

The clock is ticking... and while you have meticulously planned out every detail up until this point, everything will continue to become more and more chaotic up until the day of trial. Ask any successful paralegal what the two key elements of trial preparation are, and they'll tell you this: organization and flexibility. When put to the test, are your skills everything they should be? Let us help you take a closer look at the specialized realm of paralegal responsibilities leading up to trial right from the convenience of your desk. Your role is important, so take the next step toward maximizing your effectiveness. Make sure you can confidently fulfill your key trial responsibilities - order these vital reference materials today!

Course Content

Useful Discovery for Trial

Creating a Trial Notebook

Preparing Your Witnesses

Effective Use of Evidence

Succeeding at Trial

Agenda / Content Covered

USEFUL DISCOVERY FOR TRIAL9:00 - 10:15, Samuel J. Kaufman

The Complaint

Public Sources of Information and Investigative Tools

Requests for Admission, Requests for Production and Interrogatories

Subpoenas

Bates Numbering

How to Efficiently Sift Through "Document Dump"

Digesting, Abstracting and Indexing Depositions

Troubleshooting Discovery Problems

CREATING A TRIAL NOTEBOOK10:30 - 11:30, Thaddeus Furlong

Advantages and Disadvantages of a Litigation vs. Chronological Notebook

Key Sections and Their Development

Cross-Referencing

Hypothetical Scenario

PREPARING YOUR WITNESSES11:30 - 12:45, Thaddeus Furlong

Creating Witness Lists

Trial vs. Deposition Preparation

How Preparation Varies Between Clients, Non-Expert Witnesses and Experts

Pre-Trial Interviews

Troubleshooting Witness Problems

EFFECTIVE USE OF EVIDENCE1:45 - 3:00, Kimberley A. Murphy

Choosing Your Technological Direction

The Power of the Exhibit List

Preparing Documents and Demonstratives

Troubleshooting Problems with Evidence

SUCCEEDING AT TRIAL3:15 - 4:30, Kimberley A. Murphy

What if You Don't go to Trial?

Court Rules and Practices You Need to Know About

Differences Between Federal vs. Local or County Court

Assisting with Jury Selection

Tips for Working in the Courtroom

Anticipating the Needs of Your Attorney

Working with Opposing Counsel, Court Staff and the Judge

Ways to Present Evidence at Trial

Troubleshooting Problems from the Courtroom

Surviving the Trial

Accreditation Details:

Credit Information

Paralegal EducationNALA
- 6.00

This seminar meets the requirements of the Certifying Board for Legal Assistants of the National Association of Legal Assistants, Inc., for 6.0 hours, including 0.0 ethics, of continuing legal assistant education self-study credit required to maintain the CLA (Certified Legal Assistant) credential.

THADDEUS FURLONG is an attorney with Furlong Law Offices PLLC. He has advised members of Congress, conducted numerous jury trials, and high profile cases including celebrity DUIs, road rage, homicide, arson, narcotics, bank robbery, financial crimes, and sensitive cases for high officials. With a law enforcement background, including the Los Angeles County Sheriff's, LAPD (Robbery-Homicide), Fairfax County Police, and teaching at the FBI and college level, Mr. Furlong offers special insight into police procedures, evidence analysis and criminal investigation. He is a former military officer and Judge Advocate General's attorney on the staff of VaDF 23rd Battalion in Warrenton, Virginia. Mr. Furlong is a member of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, American Association of University Professors, the Virginia Coalition of Police Officers and others. In 1999, he was awarded “Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year” by the Virginia Bar Association for working with indigent clients. Mr. Furlong earned his B.A. degree from California State University and his J.D. degree from Georgetown University.

SAMUEL J. KAUFMAN is a partner with Owen & Owens PLC. He represents businesses and individuals in commercial litigation and real estate matters. Mr. Kaufman's commercial clients are in diverse industries, such as construction, transportation, automotive, title insurance, and banking. His personal representations include contract and business disputes, as well as transactional business matters. Mr. Kaufman also assists individuals and businesses with the sale or purchase of commercial and residential real estate. He is the past chairman of the Chesterfield County Chamber of Commerce; vice president for planning and operations for the University of Richmond Alumni Association; chairman of the Chesterfield County Economic Development Advisory Council; and the vice chairman of the Chippenham Place Community Development Board. He was selected for inclusion in the 2017 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the category of real estate litigation. Mr. Kaufman has also been selected to Virginia Super Lawyers, 2009-present; Virginia Legal Elite, 2013, Top 40 Under 40 by the National Trial Lawyers, 2012; and Top 40 Under 40 by Style Weekly. He earned his B.A. degree from the University of Richmond, Jepson School and his J.D. degree from Albany Law School of Union University.

KIMBERLEY A. MURPHY has been a partner and principal attorney of the law firm of Hale Ball Carlson Baumgartner Murphy, PLC, in Fairfax, where she concentrates her practice in the areas of administrative law (professional license compliance), estates and trusts (administration and litigation), and business/civil (litigation). She has appeared on numerous occasions before many circuit courts throughout the Commonwealth, in addition to the Court of Appeals of Virginia and the Supreme Court of Virginia, as well as the Virginia Department of Health Professions and Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. Ms. Murphy is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States. She earned her B.A. degree from Michigan State University and her J.D. degree, magna cum laude, from Michigan State University College of Law.